Vacuum clamping device comprising U-shaped channel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum clamping device for sucking and clamping a work object by using high-speed compressed air. The device basically comprises a hollow main body, a pad which is communicated and fastened with the lower end of the main body, and a vacuum ejector which is arranged inside the main body. In particular, the main body comprises a compressed air inlet and a compressed air outlet which are formed adjacent to each other on the upper surface, a lower base provided for mounting the ejector, and a 'U'-shaped vacuum passage extending from the inlet to the outlet through the ejector. The ejector is a cylindrical nozzle, the lower end of the ejector is mounted on the base, the upper end of the ejector corresponds to the discharge port, and the ejector is vertically arranged in the main body and comprises a through hole formed in the side wall of the ejector; at the moment, the pad is dredged from the ejector through the through hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vacuum gripper device, and more specifically, to a vacuum gripper device that uses high-speed compressed air to generate vacuum and negative pressure to adsorb and grip an object being worked on. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, a vacuum clamping device includes a hollow main body, a pad that is connected and secured to the lower end of the main body, and a vacuum ejector that is connected to or internally installed in the main body via a hose. When the pad is in contact with the surface of the object, compressed air passes through the ejector at high speed, and the air inside the pad is introduced into the inside of the ejector through the main body and discharged to the outside along with the compressed air.

[0003] At this point, a vacuum and negative pressure are generated inside the pad. Under the influence of this negative pressure, the object is attracted and held by the pad. Subsequently, the object is transferred to a designated location via an automated device or robotic system connected to the outside of the main body.

[0004] As an example of existing technology Figure 1 The "vacuum clamping device" disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0131617 is shown. The clamping device 110 disclosed herein includes a hollow body 111, a pad 112 that is connected to and fastened to the lower end of the body 111, and a vacuum ejector 113 that is horizontally mounted inside the body 111.

[0005] Compressed air is supplied through the inlet 115 on one side of the main body 111, passes at high speed through the ejector 113, and is then discharged through the outlet 116 on the opposite side. At this time, the air inside the pad 112 is introduced into the ejector 113 through the side wall through-hole 114 and is discharged to the outside along with the compressed air. In this way, the internal space S of the pad 112 is vented. Under the negative pressure generated in the internal space S, the object W is adsorbed and held by the adsorption pad 112.

[0006] As another example of existing technology Figure 2 An "in-line vacuum pump" disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1157542 (U.S. Patent Registration No. 9,151,300) is shown. The vacuum pump 120 disclosed herein includes a hollow body 121, a pad 122 that communicates with and is fastened to the lower end of the body 121, and a vacuum ejector 123 that is longitudinally mounted inside the body 121.

[0007] In this case, compressed air is supplied through the upper inlet 125 of the main body 121, passes through the ejector 123 at high speed, and is then discharged to the outside through the side outlet 126; in this way, the internal space S of the pad 122 is vented. For example, the "vacuum clamping device" disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2525827 is also like this.

[0008] As can be seen from the above examples, in existing vacuum clamping devices, the air passage between the inlet and outlet of compressed air is defined by either a "straight line (—)" or a "right angle (—)". The air channel is designed in a "hollow" shape. To date, this type of air channel design has been taken for granted in the structure in which vacuum ejectors 113 and 123 are installed on the inside of the hollow body 111, 121 and fastened to the bottom pads 112, 122; in fact, clamping devices of this type are often used in the field.

[0009] However, this structure has the following problems because the distance between the compressed air inlet and outlet is large, and their directions, based on the main body, are also different: It is impossible to uniformly confirm and control the supply and discharge status of compressed air; It is impossible to design and manufacture the device in a compact and simple manner; Furthermore, when an application, such as an array of devices, needs to be tailored to the characteristics of the object being worked on, its applicability is not easy.

[0010] <Prior Technology Documents> Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0131617 Patent Registration Publication No. 10-1157542 Patent Registration Publication No. 10-1659517 Patent Registration Publication No. 10-1019948 Patent Registration Publication No. 10-2525827 Summary of the Invention

[0011] Technical issues This invention aims to address the problems existing in the prior art. The object of this invention is to provide a vacuum clamping device that forms a compressed air inlet and outlet in adjacent positions on a main body and in the same direction. Another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum clamping device that can be designed and manufactured in a compact manner.

[0012] Technical solution The vacuum clamping device of the present invention comprises a hollow main body, a connector for connecting a pad that communicates with and is fastened to the lower end of the main body, and a vacuum ejector disposed inside the main body, characterized in that... The subject includes: The compressed air inlet and outlet formed on the upper side, the lower base provided for mounting the ejector, and the U-shaped vacuum channel extending from the inlet through the ejector to the outlet. The base is: A laterally extending cylindrical mounting base is provided at the lower end of the air supply pipe extending downward from the inlet into the body, the base including one or more circular placement portions formed thereon; The injector is: A cylindrical nozzle, including a through hole formed on its side wall, is vertically arranged in the internal space of the main body, with its lower end mounted on the upper part of the placement part on the horizontal base and its upper end inserted into the outlet. The pad: The internal space is connected to the injector through the through-hole; The vacuum channel: The flow path sequentially passes through the upper inlet, downward supply pipe, transverse base, upward ejector, and upper outlet, forming a U-shape.

[0013] Preferably, the base includes multiple placement parts, and the injector is installed on each placement part to form a parallel array.

[0014] In addition, the main body may also include: an abolition channel extending directly from the compressed air inlet formed on the upper side to the internal space of the pad; In addition, it may include a measuring hole extending from the upper side into the interior space of the pad, thereby detecting the internal pressure of the pad.

[0015] Invention Effects According to the vacuum clamping device of the present invention, the compressed air inlet and outlet are connected by a 'U'-shaped vacuum channel, in which the ejector is vertically arranged and forms part of the vacuum channel. Therefore, the inlet and outlet can be formed and arranged adjacent to each other in the upper direction of the main body, and the device as a whole can be compactly designed and manufactured.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the separately added abolition channel and measuring hole are also designed from the top of the main body. Therefore, the vacuum clamping device of the present invention includes vacuum abolition and detection functions while still being designed compactly as a whole. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1A cross-sectional view showing an example of an existing vacuum clamping device.

[0018] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view showing another example of an existing vacuum clamping device.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a vacuum clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 3 The exploded diagram.

[0021] Figure 5 From Figure 3 A plan view showing the state of the top cover removed.

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the 'A-A' line.

[0023] Figure 7 for Figure 5 The cross-sectional view of the 'B-B' line.

[0024] Figure 8 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the vacuum function of the vacuum clamping device.

[0025] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A diagram illustrating the abolition effect.

[0026] Figure 10 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the array structure of the vacuum clamping device.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 10. Clamping device 11. Main Body 12. Connector 13. Injector 14. Pad 15. Cover part 16. Inlet 17. Discharge outlet 18. Base 19. Vacuum Channel 20. Through hole 21. Supply Management 22. Placement section 23. Check valve 24. Inlet 25. Abolish the passageway 26. Check valve 27. Kong S. Space W. Object of the operation Detailed Implementation

[0028] The features and effects of the present invention, "vacuum clamping device including a U-shaped channel" (hereinafter referred to as "clamping device"), whether described above or not, will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 3 In the accompanying drawings and subsequent figures, the clamping device of the present invention is indicated by reference numeral 10.

[0029] Reference Figures 3 to 7 The clamping device 10 of the present invention includes: a hollow body 11, a connector 12 for connecting a pad 14 connected to the lower end of the body 11, and a vacuum ejector 13 disposed inside the body 11. The accompanying drawings exemplarily show the adsorption pad 14 for the work object W directly connected to the connector 12, but the pad 14 may also be connected at a location spaced apart from the connector 12 via a flexible tube or the like.

[0030] The main body 11 includes: a compressed air inlet 16 and an outlet 17 formed adjacent to the upper surface of the upper cover 15; a cylindrical lower base 18 for mounting the injector 13; and a U-shaped vacuum channel 19 extending from the inlet 16 through the injector 13 to the outlet 17. That is, compressed air supplied from the upper inlet 16 circulates in a U-shape inside the main body 11, passes through the injector 13, and is then discharged to the outside through the upper outlet 17.

[0031] The accompanying drawings exemplarily show that the inlet 16 and outlet 17 are formed on the 'top' of the body 11, but the invention is not limited to their specific locations as long as they are formed on the 'upper side' of the body 11 and can form the U-shaped vacuum channel 19.

[0032] The base 18 is a cylindrical mounting base extending laterally at the lower end of the supply pipe 21. The base 18 includes one or more circular placement portions 22 formed thereon. The supply pipe 21 extends downward from the inlet 16 into the interior of the body 11.

[0033] Here, the injector 13 is a cylindrical nozzle vertically arranged in the internal space of the main body 11, with its lower end mounted on the base 18 and its upper end inserted into and corresponding to the outlet 17. The injector 13 includes a through hole 20 formed in the side wall. The internal space S of the pad 14 is open to the injector 13 through the through hole 20.

[0034] More specifically, the vacuum channel 19 is designed as follows: sequentially passing through the inlet 16 on the upper part of the main body 11 → the downward air supply pipe 21 inside the main body 11 → the horizontal lower base 18 → the upward vacuum ejector 13 → the outlet 17 on the upper part of the main body 11. That is, the compressed air supplied from the upper inlet 16 passes through the downward supply pipe 21, through the base 18, circulates in a 'U' shape inside the main body 11, passes through the vertical ejector 13, and is discharged to the outside through the upper outlet 17.

[0035] During the compressed air discharge process, the internal air of the pad 14 is introduced into the injector 13 through the through hole 20 and discharged together with the compressed air. In this way, the internal space S of the pad 14 is 'vented', while generating a vacuum and negative pressure for adsorbing and clamping the work object W. Reference numeral 23 is a non-backflow check valve located on the upper side of the connector 12, which only allows air to flow in the 'venting' direction.

[0036] Preferably, the base 18 includes a plurality of circular placement portions 22, in which the injectors 13 are individually installed in each placement portion 22 by means of insertion at their lower ends, thereby forming a parallel array. At this time, each injector 13 constitutes a vacuum channel 19 branching off from the inlet 16.

[0037] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 There are four injectors 13 arranged approximately concentrically. The number of injectors 13 can be adjusted by taking into account the weight, area, and other characteristics of the object W to be worked on, and by corresponding to the required vacuum and negative pressure levels. For example, when a high vacuum and negative pressure are not required, injectors 13 can be installed on only one or two placement parts 22, and the rest can be finished off, thereby realizing and adjusting the array of injectors 13.

[0038] In this embodiment, the main body 11 further includes a waste channel 25, which extends directly from a compressed air inlet 24 formed separately on the upper surface of the upper cover 15 to the internal space S of the pad 14. Compressed air through the waste channel 25 is directly supplied to the internal space S of the pad 14, instantly breaking the vacuum formed in the internal space S of the pad 14 for holding the work object W.

[0039] Reference numeral 26 indicates a non-return check valve located at the lower end of the waste channel 25, which opens the waste channel 25 by the pressure of compressed air supplied to the inlet 24. Furthermore, the main body 11 includes a measuring hole 27 extending from the upper surface of the cover 15 into the internal space S of the pad 14, capable of detecting the internal pressure of the pad 14. A vacuum sensor is connected to the upper end of the hole 27.

[0040] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 8 First, with the pad 14 in contact with the surface of the work object W, compressed air is supplied to the inlet 16 (see arrow ①), passes through the vacuum channel 19 at high speed (see arrows ② and ③), and is discharged through the outlet 17. During this process, the internal air of the pad 14 is introduced into the injector 13 through the through hole 20 (see arrow ④) and is discharged to the outside along with the compressed air (see arrow ⑤). In this way, the internal space S of the pad 14 is 'exhausted' and negative pressure is generated, thereby adsorbing and clamping the work object W.

[0041] Subsequently, using an automated or robotic device connected to the main body 11, the object W is transferred to a designated location. After the transfer is completed, the pad 14 separates from the object W, and the pad 14 is prepared for the next operation. However, for the sake of operational efficiency, the pad 14 needs to be separated quickly.

[0042] Reference Figure 9 After the object W has been transferred, compressed air is supplied to another inlet 24 (see arrow ⑥). This compressed air is supplied directly to the internal space S of the pad 14 through the waste channel 25 (see arrow ⑦), thereby instantly breaking the vacuum and negative pressure formed in the internal space S of the pad 14 for holding and transferring the object W. Therefore, the pad 14 can be quickly separated from the object W.

[0043] According to the clamping device 10 of the present invention, by employing the aforementioned 'U'-shaped vacuum channel 19 and vertical ejector 13, the compressed air inlet 16 and outlet 17 can be arranged adjacent to one side of the main body 11, and the clamping device 10 can be designed as a vertical, compact structure. This compact design is also very advantageous when multiple clamping devices 10 are configured in an array.

[0044] Figure 10 An example is shown in which multiple clamping devices 10 of the present invention are secured to individual brackets 31, forming an array 30. For example, the array 30 can be advantageously used when the surface area or load of the object W is large.

Claims

1. A vacuum clamping device comprising a hollow body (11), a connector (12) for connecting a pad (14) connected to and fastened to the lower end of the body (11), and a vacuum ejector (13) disposed inside the body (11), characterized in that, The main body (11) includes: Compressed air inlet (16) and outlet (17) are formed on the upper side; a lower transverse base (18) is provided for mounting the injector (13); a U-shaped vacuum channel (19) extends from the inlet (16) through the injector (13) to the outlet (17). The lower transverse base (18) is: The lower end of the supply pipe (21) extending downward from the inlet (16) into the body (11) is fitted with a laterally extending cylindrical mounting base, the lower lateral base (18) including one or more circular placement portions (22) formed thereon. The injector (13) is: A cylindrical nozzle, arranged vertically within the interior space of the main body (11), is mounted on a placement part (22) on the lower transverse base (18) at its lower end and inserted into the outlet (17) at its upper end. The nozzle (13) includes a through hole (20) formed on its side wall. The pad (14): The internal space (S) is connected to the injector (13) through the through hole (20). The vacuum channel (19): It is formed in a U-shape by passing through the upper inlet (16) → downward supply pipe (21) → lower transverse base (18) → upward injector (13) → upper outlet (17).

2. The vacuum clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compressed air inlet (16) and outlet (17) are formed adjacent to each other on the top of the main body (11).

3. The vacuum clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (18) includes multiple placement parts (22), and the injector (13) is installed on each placement part (22) to form a parallel array.

4. The vacuum clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body (11) includes: The compressed air inlet (24) formed separately on the upper side extends directly into the abolition channel (25) of the internal space (S) of the pad (14).

5. The vacuum clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body (11) includes: A measuring hole (27) extends from the top into the internal space (S) of the pad (14) to detect the internal pressure of the pad (14).

6. The vacuum clamping device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The main body (11) includes: A non-return check valve (26) is installed at the lower end of the waste passage (25) and opens the waste passage (25) by the pressure of compressed air supplied to the inlet (24).

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